ICO and INFORM start project for the implementation of a Terminal Operating System

International Car Operators (ICO) plans to install a new Terminal Operating System (TOS) for its terminals in Zeebrugge and Antwerp. After a detailed tender phase the choice fell on the SyncroTESS system by Aachen based software provider INFORM. In a first step the two parties work on the compilation of a detailed requirement specification based on the SyncroTESS standard functionalities for compound management in order to reflect the specific demands from ICO’s operation.

The Compound Management System from INFORM is a business solution based on the SyncroTESS product suite for the optimization of logistical processes. The system will contain all features of a modern compound management system with the tracking of each vehicle, a realtime graphical representation of the yard layout and all cars as well as the integration of handhelds, barcodes and RFID.

Furthermore the system will use advanced planning and optimization modules for the benefit of a highly efficient terminal. The planning modules optimize the use of the yard and minimize the distance between unloading and loading operations in order to generate a berth plan. Then the number of resources necessary at the different areas is determined and on the day of execution itself the jobs are assigned by the system to the individual worker in an optimized sequence. “We started to work on the requirements of a new TOS clearly with the vision to use a modern system in order to be even more competitive in all of our services in the future”, Jurgen Vanhove, General Manager Operations stated during the kickoff meeting of the project.

Alain Guillemyn, ICO’s Manager IT, explained further that “the TOS project is the most important project for ICO as it touches the core business processes which we offer to our customers. The goal was to establish a business case which helps to refinance the investment of the system in a very short period of time. This was possible only with the use of highly sophisticated optimization tools, which have proven themselves in other companies or even at container terminals!”

ICO is one of the most important stevedoring companies for roll-on roll-off cargo in Europe, offering vessel and terminal handling services, vehicle processing, port agency, customs clearance and forwarding. ICO is a 100% daughter company of Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK), one of the world's leading transportation companies. The NYK Group operates approximately 700 major ocean vessels, as well as fleets of planes, trains, and trucks.

Last year, ICO handled a total volume of 1,6m cars and high and heavy units at its specialised roll on roll off terminals in Zeebrugge and Antwerp.

The Terminal in Antwerp focuses on deep-sea traffic and second hand cars, while . Zeebrugge position itself as an European hub for new factory cars and a gateway for short-sea car trades in Europe.

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